Crate.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. F. L. MARY.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.14, 1907.

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PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. F.. L. MARY. CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 14, 1907.

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UNITED 'srnras PATENTOFFICE.

FRANK LORENZ MARY, OF OHEHALIS, WASHINGTON. F

CRATE.

cially adapted for shipment of poultry, but it,

may be used for other purposes, and to so construct the crate that itcan be quickly and conveniently folded flat so as to occupy but littleroom and be locked in folded position, and so that further, the cratecan be as conveniently and quickly set up for use.

It is also the purpose of the invention to so construct a folding cratethat none of the parts is separated from the body of the crate,

while being knocked down or set up, so that no portion of the crate isliable to be lost or misplaced.

The invention consists in the novel cons'truction and combination of theseveral parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specifica tion, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved crate set up, a portionof the top being shown open, the view being drawn upon a small scale;Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the crate drawn upon a largerscale, the section being taken practically on the line 22 of Fig. 3, thecrate being shown set up for use, and one of the side sections folded upagainst the top and the opposing side section in sustaining positionFig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 33 ofFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the crate folded; Fig.5 is a detail partial transverse section showing the manner in which thecrate is lockedin folded position; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspectiveview of a portion of the inside of the crate showing how the sides areheld in proper position when the crate is set up.

The crate consists of a top section A, a bot tom section B, end sectionsC, and side sections D. Relatively to the top section A it consists indetail of end members 10 and side Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1907.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Serial No. 362,299.

members 11, and cross bars 12 that extend from one side member to theother at each side of the center of the top section forming thereby anintervening space 14 between the said bars 12 and the space between thebars 12 and the end members 10 of the top section is filled in by areticulated or perforated material 13, preferably a wire netting ofsuitable mesh. Aslide 14 is made to practically close the aforesaidopening 14 and this slide is made to operate beneath strips 15 attachedto the upper portion of the top section A and spanning the opening 14"at its ends, while upper and lower guide strips 16 span the said opening14 at its central portion. See Fig. 1.

Preferably the sliding section 14 of the cover or top section of thecrate is separated from the strips 12, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and3, and in order that the said sliding section 14 of the top section mayhave guided movement in closing or unclosing the opening 14*,projections 17 usually in the nature of pins are carried down from thebridging or spanning strips 15 and 16, as is shown in Figs.

3 and 4, but I desire it to be understood that the slide 14 may fitclosely to the transverse strips 12 at the central portion of the topsection A of the crate.

Blocks 18 are secured to the inner faces of the side members 11 of thetop, one at each side of the center of the said member, as is shown inFigs. 3 and 4, and pivot rods 19 are loosely passed through the blocks18, which pivot rods are supports for the side sections D of the crate.Each side section D of a crate consists of horizontal upper bars 20 andhorizontal lower bars 21 connected by end upright bars 22 and a centralupright bar 23 which extends at its upper end between the blocks 18, butI do not limit myself to the number of horizontal bars 20 or upright orvertical bars 22 and 23, but the horizontal bars 20 and 21 receivebetween them a wire mesh 24, the mesh being secured to the said bars inany suitable or approved manner, and the upright or vertical bars 22 and23 are located at the inner faces of the said side sections D and extendabove and below the horizontal bars 20 and 21. The pivot rods 19 arepassed through the upper end portions of the vertical connecting bars 22and 23, as is shown in Fig. 3, and the said pivot rods 19 extend outthrough the end members 10 of the top section A of the crate, beingprovided at their outer ends with suitable nuts. It may be here statedthat in each side member 11 of the top section A, a longitudinal slot 11is produced extending from a point near each end and terminating at apoint near the center of the side member 11 in which the slot isproduced.

The bottom section B consists of a bottom member 25, side members 26that extend in an upwardly direction, and end members 27. The bottomsection B corresponds in shape and dimensions to the top section A. Thebottom section B at its central portion is provided with a transversebeam 29 secured to the upperface of its lower member 25, and on thisbeam 29 at each end, an angular latch 30 is mounted to turn in guides 31and 32 secured to the said bars 29, as is shown in Fig. 6.

The side sections D are pivoted by means of the rods 19 to the blocks 18and the end members 10 of the top section A, as has been described, andwhen these side sections are in their vertical or sustaining positionsshown to the right in Fig. 2, and in Figs. 1 and 3, they are so held bymeans of the said latches 30, which are made to engage with the centralupright bars 23 of the side sections, but when the crate is to be foldedor knocked down the latches 30 are turned so as to free them from theaforesaid side sections D and permit the said side sections to be foldedup closely beneath the top section A, as is shown to the left in Fig. 2,and is also shown in Fig. 4.

The end sections C consist of upper parallel twin bars 33 correspondingto the upper bars 20 of the side sections D, and lower parallel or twinbars 34 corresponding to the bars 21 of the side sections and connectingbars 35 located vertically at the end portions of the said sections, asis shown in Fig. 2, the end vertical bars 35 extending respectivelyabove and below the twin bars 33 and 34 which are horizontal bars and awire mesh 36 is suitably held between the parallel or twin bars 33 and34. Pivot rods 37 extend through the upper ends of the vertical endmembers 35 of the end sections C and out through the slots 11 in theside members of the top section A of the crate and parallel lower pivotbars 38 are made to extend i through the lower ends of the end members35 of the end sections C and out through the side members 26 of thebottom section B so that the end sections C are pivotally connected withthe bottom B and are pivotally and slidably connected with the topsection A. The outerends of the pivot rods 37 and 38 of the end sectionsC are connected at the front and at the rear of the crate by links 39.

The latch 40 is secured to the front central portion of the top sectionA of the crate, the said latch bein provided with an opening41 adjacentto its lower end and when the crate is folded, the lower end of thelatch 40 passes When the crate is set up the latches 30 locking the sidesection B insures the stability of the structure and the slide 14 can beopened or closed readily as occasion may demand.

I When the crate is empty and is to be folded up it is simply necessaryto open the slide 14, turn the bolts 30 from engagement with the sidesections D, and to fold the said side sections up closely beneath theunder face of the top section A, as is shown in Fig. 4, and then toforce the top section A down to an engagement with the bottom section B,during which action the end sections 0 will vby reason of their peculiarmounting be carried inward and downward occupying the position shown inFig. 4, and as the top section A meets the bottom section B the twosections are locked together in the manner which has been described.

WVhen the crate is to be set up for use it is simply necessary todisengage the latch 40 from its keeper, raise the top section, whereuponthe side sections will drop to their vertical or sustaining positions,and the end sections will automatically be brought to their sustainingor upright positions, finally, the latches 30 are brought to engage withthe side sections D insuring the stability of the structure, as has beendescribed.

I desire it to be understood that the folding construction describedrelatively to a crate, is equally adaptable to boxes and likereceptacles.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent,

1. A folding crate or like receptacle comprising a top and a bottomsection, opposing intermediate sections mounted to fold upward andinward, other opposing intermedi ate sections, upper and lower pivotrods for the last mentioned sections, the lower pivot rods beingpivotally connected with the bottom section and the upper pivot rodshaving sliding connection with the top section whereby the saidintermediate sections may be folded inward and downward, and linksconnecting the said upper and lower pivot rods.

2. A folding crate or like receptacle, comprising a top and a bottomsection, opposing intermediate sections having upright members at theends and at the center, the upright members extending at their endswithin the top and bottom sections, pivot rods extending through theupper ends of said upright members and pivotally connecting the samewith the top section, the said intermediate sections being free at theirlower ends,

and arranged to fold inward and upward, a

transverse bar secured to the inner face of the bottom section, latchesmounted to turn at the ends of said transverse bar and adapted to engagethe inner faces of the said central upright members of the intermediatesections, and other opposing intermediate sections mounted to foldinward and down ward, and each having a pivotal connection with thebottom section and a sliding connection with the top section.

3. A folding crate or like receptacle comprising a top and a bottomsection, opposing intermediate sections mounted to fold inward, otheropposing intermediate sections, upperand lower pivot rods for connectingeach of the last mentioned sections with the top and bottom sections,and extending out through the side members of said top and bottomsections, and links connecting the prcjj ecting ends of said upper andlower pivot roc s.

4. In a folding crate, a top section, a bottom section, side sectionspivotally connected with the top section, being free at their lowerends, end sections pivotally connected at their lower ends with thebottom section and slidably and pivotally connected at their upper endswith the u per section, links connecting the upper and fower pivots ofthe end sections locking devices for the side sections located withinthe crate and exteriorly located locking means for securing the crate infolded position.

5. In a folding crate or like receptacle, a top section, a bottomsection, side sections pivotally connected with the top section and freeat their lower ends, end sections pivotally connected at their lowerends with the bottom section and slidably .and pivotally connected attheir upper ends with the top section, a transverse bar secured to theupper face of the bottom section near the central portion thereof, thesaid side sections having central upright bars extending at their lowerends adjacent to the transverse bar, an angular latch at each end ofsaid transverse bar and mounted to turn in guides secured to said bar,the said latches being adapted to engage the inner faces of the saidcentral upright bars to hold the side sections in vertical position, andlocking means for securing the crate in folded position.

6. In a folding crate or like receptacle, a top, a bottom, and side andend sections, the side sections being pivoted to the top section, upperand lower pivot rods for the end sections, the lower pivot rodsextending out through the sides of the bottom section, and the upperpivot rods extending out through slots in the sides of the top section,and links connecting the projecting ends of the upper and lower pivotrods of each end section.

V 7. A folding crate or like receptacle comprising a top section havingside and end members, a bottom section also having side and end members,side sections, rods for pivoting the upper ends of said side sections tothe top section, the pivot rods extending through the end members of thetop section, the side sections being free at their lower ends, endsections, rods for pivoting the lower ends of said end sections to theside members of the bottom section of the crate, pivot rods for theupper ends of the end sections, the upper pivot rods extending at theirends through longitudinal slots in the side members of said top section,and links connecting the ends of said upper and lower pivot rods of eachend section.

8. A folding crate or like receptacle, comprising a top, a bottom andside and end sections, the top and bottom sections having side and endmembers and the top section being provided with an opening, and meansfor closing said opening, the side sections of the crate each havingupper and lower hori zontal bars and upright bars connecting the same,the upright bars extending above and below the horizontal bars, pivotrods passing through the upper end portions of said upright bars, theends of the pivot rods extending through the side members of said topsection, the said end sections of the crate being also provided withupper and lower horizontal bars and upright bars connecting the same andextending above and below the said horizontal bars, lower pivot rodspassing through the lower projecting ends of said upright bars andthrough the side members of the bottom section of the crate, upper pivotrods extending through the upper ends of said upright bars and throughslots in the side members of the said top section, and links connectingthe projecting ends of the said upper and lower pivot rods of the endsections.

9. A folding crate or like receptacle, comprising a top, bottom, end andside sections, the top and bottom sections having side and end members,blocks secured to the inner faces of each side member of said topsection one at each side of the center of said member, the side sectionsof the crate each having upper and lower horizontal bars connected byend upright bars and a central upright bar, the upright bars extendingabove and below the horizontal bars and the upper ends of the centralupright bars extending between the said blocks, pivot rods passingthrough the upper end portions of said upright bars and through the saidblocks, the ends of the said pivot rods extending out through the endmembers of said top section of the crate and provided at said outer endswith nuts, the end sections of the crate being also provided with upperand lower horizontal bars and end upright bars connecting the same,pivot rods passing through' the lower ends of the upright bars of saidend sections and through the side members of the bottom section,

pivot rods extending through the upper ends name to this specificationin the presence of of said upright bars and through slots in the twosubscribing Witnesses. side members of the top section, means forlocking the side sections of the crate in the FRANK LORENZ MARY 5extended position, and means for securing Witnesses:

the crate in folded position. EDWARD D. MACDONALD,

In testimony whereof I have signed my E. R. MERRELL.

